DNA sequence copy number increase at 8q: A potential new prognostic markerin high-grade osteosarcoma

Histologic response to chemotherapy is currently the best prognostic parame ter in high-grade osteosarcoma but it can be evaluated only after several w eeks of chemotherapy. Thus a prognostic parameter known at the time of diag nosis would be of great clinical benefit. In the present study, we present the results of 31 primary high-grade osteosarcomas analyzed by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). CGH allows for genome-wide screening of a tumo r by detecting alterations in DNA sequence copy number. The most frequent a berrations were copy number increases at 1q21 in 58% of the tumors and at 8 q (8q21.3-q22 in 52% and 8cen-q13 in 45%), followed by copy number increase s at 14q24-qter (35%) and Xp 11.2-p21 (35%). The most common losses were de tected at 6q16 (32%) and 6q21-q22 (32%). Patients with a copy number increa se at 8q21.3-q22 and/or at 8cen-q13 had a statistically significant poor di stant disease-free survival (p = 0.003) and showed a trend toward short ove rall survival (p = 0.04). Patients with a copy number increase at 1q21 show ed a trend toward short overall survival (p = 0.04). Thus, specific genetic aberrations detected at the time of the diagnosis could be used in prognos tic evaluation of high-grade osteosarcoma. Int. J. Cancer (Pred. Oncol.) 84 :114-121, 1999. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.